NATO Accuses Russia of Using Cluster Bombs in Ukraine - The New York Times
Category: News & Politics
Via: moose-knuckle • 2 years ago • 2 commentsBy: Lara Jakes and Steven Erlanger (nytimes)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Officials made the accusation Friday as part of a display of a unified front in support of Ukraine, but rejected a plea from Kyiv to impose a no-fly zone over its airspace.
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NATO foreign ministers during a meeting in Brussels on Friday to discuss the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the growing refugee crisis in Europe.Credit...Pool photo by Olivier Doulier
By Lara Jakes and Steven Erlanger
March 4, 2022, 2:45 p.m. ET
BRUSSELS — NATO officials, determined to show a unified front of support for Ukraine, on Friday accused Russia of using cluster bombs in its invasion, but rejected Kyiv's plea to impose a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace, fearing that would draw the military alliance into a larger war with Russia.
Dozens of protesters waving Ukrainian flags chanted "NATO, act now!" outside the headquarters of the alliance as its foreign ministers met in a special session focused on helping Ukraine repel Russia's expanding invasion. Ministers also met in sessions organized by the European Union and the Group of 7.
Inside the NATO headquarters, the ministers heard an appeal from Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, asking for more military assistance than NATO has so far been willing to give.
"Help us," Mr. Kuleba pleaded in a video that was posted on Twitter. "If you don't, I'm afraid you will have to share responsibility for the lives and the suffering of civilian Ukrainians, who die because of ruthless Russian pilots who throw bombs on them."
Shortly afterward, the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, confirmed that Russia had attacked Ukraine with anti-personnel cluster bombs, which kill so indiscriminately they are banned under international law.
But he rejected Mr. Kuleba's plea for a no-fly zone. "Allies agree that we should not have NATO planes operating over Ukrainian airspace or NATO troops on Ukrainian territory," he said.
Cluster bombs can be dropped from planes or launched from rockets. Enforcing a no-fly zone usually requires warplanes to patrol airspace, with troops below to identify and report violations.
ImageForeign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine last month. "Help us," Mr. Kuleba pleaded in a video that was posted on Twitter on Friday.Credit...Pool photo by Carolyn Kaster
The day of meetings of the NATO, E.U. and G7 foreign ministers was billed as a display of Western unity in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. Even Liz Truss, the British foreign secretary, set Brexit aside to preach "complete unity" at the E.U. meeting, which the U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, also attended.
"We are faced together with what is President Putin's war of choice — unprovoked, unjustified," Mr. Blinken told journalists ahead of the meeting. "We're committed to doing everything we can to make it stop. So the coordination between us is vital."
The crisis has reminded Europeans of how much they depend on the United States for leadership and military muscle, as well as the nuclear umbrella that serves as the most important element of deterrence against countries like Russia, China or even Iran.
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Is the NYT aware the United States used cluster bombs and Thermobaric bombs during the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan? I keep hearing they are breaking International law. I don't think they care nor did the United States.
What credibility do those claims have at this point? Are they weapons that murder countless? Of course they are but war obviously doesn't respect law or international courts.
Hard to claim higher morale ground when you used them. I certainly remember Russia condemning our invasion of those two countries and use of those types of weapons. I am not sure we Americans are in a position to critic this conflict. Our war was based on lies as is theirs.
The US last used cluster bombs in Iraq in 2003, cluster bombs were banned internationally in 2008. Thermobaric weapons (fuel-air explosive, vacuum bombs) are not specifically prohibited against military targets. We did use fuel-air bombs in the mountains of Afghanistan but against military targets if I remember how it was stated. If Russia has used one against a civilian target....